Bonita got off to a quick start, leading 9-2 in Game 1 and Silverado never got closer than four points. Game 2 was a similar start, with Bonita leading 13-4. But the Desert Sky League champs, who won their first league title since 2000, didn’t fold. The Hawks got within 19-17, but couldn’t get over the hump.

“I think Ashley and Allie were a little off (in timing),” Contreras said.

Game 3 was tied as late as 10-all, before the Bearcats pulled away.

“They (Bearcats) got into a rhythm right away,” Silverado second-year coach Tyrone Brown said. “That had a big effect. We tried to push through. I told them that if we started out the first game like we did the third game, we might’ve been able to make a statement.”

Junior Azieanna Smith led Silverado with seven kills and 11 digs and sophomore Valerie Rivera added 12 digs and two aces. Although sophomore middle blocker Candice Agee had only four kills, her 6-foot-5 frame proved to be an obstacle for Bonita.

“We’re still very young. Before I got here, I think we won five (matches) in four years. We really wanted to be here.”

Contreras complimented her defense with allowing the Bearcats to advance to the next round.

“I was very pleased with our (defensive specialists) and liberos covering balls,” Contreras said. “There were a few balls I was nervous were going to hit the floor, but they got to them. It was an amazing job.”

Pete Marshall started his career as a freelancer for The Sun in 1991, then later was hired full time by the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in 1995. Since then he has covered a variety of sports for the Daily Bulletin and The Sun, primarily high school sports and minor league baseball. He's been doing it long enough that he's now covering the children of student-athletes he covered when he first started.